After much deliberation and a mini breakdown I have decided
to stick with the idea of researching teacher pay. While I recognize that is
super vauge. I figure that is the purpose of our literature review. Plus the
book said research is a process and that made me feel better…I don’t have to
know my super specific idea yet. Now next week I may be in a full state of panic.
But we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. ;)
What began as a personal grudge against low wages has slowly
been channeled into a healthy feeling that early childhood teachers are just as
deserving of fair wages as anyone else, especially when they have the
education. I have been talking to other people who work in daycare and they
have reported the same thing – four year degree, lead teacher, makes $9 or $10
an hour. However I was enraged when I learned a part timer I know makes $12 an
hour. (Complaining about not having any money no less) Anyways….finances are
often shrouded in secrecy and that may hamper my research design because I may
not receive participants but I mustn’t dwell on that.
This has been a very difficult process choosing a topic and
finding literature and forming a question. Because every time I think of a
thought I think of a million other factors that relate to the original thought
thus making it impossible to decide anything. My brain runs off in bunch of
directions and it’s a mess.
Thankfully I did some searching and I found some articles on
what I was looking for and I hope that after reading the information I can pick
one specific question I would like to research.
I do think your topic is vague however it must hold your interest. This entire process freaks me out a little as well. I love learning but this is just different for me. Where I live the Head Start teacher's make wages comparable to school teachers. The college early education program teachers that are full time start at $15.55 an hour and top out at $20.00 an hour.
ReplyDeleteJosie
Josie that is amazing. When I left my job in July I made $10.92 an hour. I had been working there for 2 and 1/2 years and I all ready had a BA degree and (obviously) in school for my masters. It gets me really mad how arbitrary pay is. Like what are the factors that decide pay?
DeleteHi Koni!
ReplyDeleteAs I shared with Heather, I remember a couple of resources from Foundations that dealt with wages. One was the "Worthy Wage Campaign" found at http://www.ccw.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=53
There is a link that deals with wages as compared to other professions found at http://www.ccw.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=53
I think your topic is something that you are passionate about, and it sounds as if your personal experience can help drive your research.
I think that this is a needed area of advocacy with policymakers! Maybe your research can help with this, Koni! Good luck and best wishes with your research!
Kristi
Hi Koni,
ReplyDeleteWhat a very important topic to research - especially in our economy today! It seems that you have your mind ready to find the answer to your question(s) or maybe some reasoning at why pay is so low in our field of study. I am interested to see what you find. Best of luck in your researching!
Hi Koni,
ReplyDeleteI congratulate you on wanting to research Teacher Pay. It may be a vague topic, but it is relevant to our field. I relate to this topic because I was one of those teachers with a degree making less than 12.00 dollars an hour. There were many times when I thought about leaving the field, but my passion and desire to help children and families kept me here. I witnessed many of my well prepared co-workers leaving the field because pay rate and benefits.